Countries that do not have their own space programmes could soon be reaching for the stars through a partnership between the United Nations and an American space and aviation company.

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) plan to launch the first dedicated UN space mission within the next five years.

Developing nations will be able to participate in a 14-day flight on the Dream Chaser, a reusable, multi-mission-spacecraft that can land at commercial airports or spaceports.

SNC’s Space Systems is co-sponsoring a UN/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum currently underway in Dubai that is looking at how space can drive socio-economic sustainable development.

Dianne Penn has been speaking to its head, Mark Sirangelo.

Duration: 5’36”